Throwing Aces

Cahaba Elementary students practice disc golf in the gym with their new, portable disc golf targets.

Cahaba Elementary students are learning the game of disc golf during their physical education classes, with the help of an energetic teacher and a $1,000 grant program.

The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) awarded Cahaba Elementary School a PDGA Innovative Grant in January. Cahaba coach Jaime Giangrosso said the grant was used to purchase portable disc golf equipment.

Disc golf is a physical education activity that can be enjoyed by students at every skill level, including special-needs students requiring adaptive physical education. Like golf, the object of the game is to complete each hole with the fewest throws. Instead of golf clubs, players use a disc to navigate the hole.

“I was looking for new equipment to use in my classes,” Giangrosso said. “With our school being so close to a disc golf course, I thought that this would be a new and exciting activity for our students to learn.”

Giangrosso applied for the PDGA grant after a friend shared information about it. She also discovered the Education Disc Golf Experience (EDGE), a school-based curriculum that reinforces classroom skills throughdisc golf activities.

“Disc golf equipment is very expensive,” said Giangrosso. “I told them that I was applying for a grant with limited funds of $1,000. They told me that they had a starter pack and could provide our school with everything we needed to start out with the budget I had.”

A couple months later, Giangrosso was notified that Cahaba Elementary won the Innovative Grant. She purchased six portable disc golf targets, 50 discs, curriculum and an educational DVD for students to watch during class.

“We received the equipment within a week,” she said. “The kids were so excited receive the equipment.”

Thanks to the spring weather, students can now use the equipment.

“I wanted to wait to teach the new unit during warmer months, so students could immediately go outside and connect with the game,” Giangrosso said.

“The kids were so excited to use the targets and learn the game,” she said. “They were able to move around the gym and throw at each target using a variety of weighted discs.”

The school is within a mile of the city of Trussville disc golf course, and Giangrosso hopes that exposing students to this game will encourage them to play on the local course.

“Some students have told me that they have already had a chance to play on the real course,” she said. “It is a great activity for families to go out and play in our community. The kids love it!”

During the grant application process, Giangrosso said she was asked how Cahaba Elementary School would utilize the PDGA Innovative Grant in the community.

“In addition to the disc golf unit, we are planning an annual family fun day,” Giangrosso said. “We’re going to invite the parents and their kids to come play with some of the equipment that we purchased.”

Giangrosso hopes that students who take up the sport will invite their family and friends to experience the health benefits and overall fitness as a result of playing disc golf.

“I wanted to introduce and encourage students to enjoy family friendly activities that don’t require much equipment and also enjoy what’s available to our community,” Giangrosso said.